Which house concept? Fundamental questions of house construction

Hello everyone,

we are fortunate to own a building plot and are now faced with a difficult choice. For several months, we have been researching, visiting show houses, and diligently reading forums. Opinions on floor plans and fittings vary, and depending on budget and taste, the possibilities are almost limitless.

But when it comes to the fundamental question of how to build cost-effectively, efficiently, and above all healthily today, there should at least be a rough consensus! From everything we have read so far, we would probably prefer to build a Thoma house (36 cm Holz100 walls), which, however, is probably not financially feasible.

When we look for alternatives, we are always told that KFW40 is not possible, that diffusion-open construction does not work at all, and that a controlled residential ventilation system is absolutely necessary. Then you keep searching and end up with alternatives like LowTec Bio Solar houses. But that is a bit too extreme for me again.

We want to build a pollutant-free house, and avoiding various materials is the best way to be sure that nothing new will be discovered in a few years that turns out not to be so great. A pure wood house somehow makes sense in that regard.

Then they say solar thermal energy is not worthwhile, so photovoltaic panels on the roof. To use that sensibly, you need a heat pump, and then air-to-air heat pumps are offered again because geothermal energy with underfloor heating is so much more expensive. So either rob a bank or make compromises.

And that’s exactly what we are looking for now. Who decided on a certain house-building concept for what reasons and why? Is a foil in the outer shell absolutely necessary? Which heating and insulation technologies are actually still worthwhile today? And how do I create the healthiest possible climate in the house?

Thanks & best regards
Luftpumpe

Why foil? It only goes on the roof, you can’t do without it there. Stone plus glass wool plus air layer plus brick veneer is pretty eco-friendly, I think. Climate in the house: old half-timbered with clay plaster, that’s supposedly the best. We are very satisfied with our wall described above with conventional interior plaster and controlled residential ventilation anyway. Where is your upper limit... it would be quite useful to have that to make a suggestion.

Or just forget the marketing nonsense "healthy living" and build a completely normal house, like all the rest of us. Walls don’t breathe either, by the way, as a second tip.

There is no consensus because everyone justifiably claims this nonsense for their own building material. Since of course no one (consciously) uses forbidden substances, anyone can claim it.

Wood per se healthy living? Aha, no glue and adhesives inside? Electrical cables lovingly wrapped instead of insulation?

Basically, it’s possible, but the budget has to be right. A price difference of 5-10K€ in the heating system is still your smallest problem. Nothing off the shelf, everything special.

Oh dear, there is no right and no wrong

Choose a focus
Budget - Energy Saving Ordinance with gas and solar, window rebate ventilation

Passive house - heat pump and controlled residential ventilation (window rebate ventilation does not work) Solar makes less sense with a heat pump, photovoltaics obviously works. The economic efficiency will not increase significantly due to the heat pump.

No foil in the wall, wood frame is therefore out

Healthy building, there are companies that offer this. Yes, your house is almost free of formaldehyde etc. before moving in. It avoids substances known today to be harmful or substances that have fallen into disrepute. This does not mean that tomorrow such a good great substitute will not be classified as harmful to health. Those who value this - should also consistently align their furniture, decoration, clothing etc. accordingly.

All together will exclude each other.

Building cheaply and pollutant-free is a contradiction to me! I also don’t go to the organic market or the farmer because it is so cheap there! Everything beyond the mass market is inherently expensive!

No foil in the wall, so wood studs are out

Since we build with wood studs without foil, I disagree. By the way, we also build without ventilation systems, but that is a matter of belief. Our company mostly builds without ventilation systems, and that works without problems. But I work from home anyway and can ventilate a lot if needed, so everyone has to decide that for themselves.

Basically: at Wohngesund everyone has their own opinion. Together with the aspect of climate protection, we chose wood. The insulation material is also pressed wood. But the stone faction (at least monolithic) also has good arguments and you just have to go your own way.

It should be clear to you: if these points are important to you, it will tend to be a bit more expensive.